Haggas

The origins of this interesting name, despite what one may think, bears no connection to the typical dish of Scotland of the same name, but instead this particular name is of Scottish locational origin from any of the numerous places in the lowlands, so called from the Northern Medieval English word "hag", a clearing (Old Norse "hogg", a cutting blow, hewing of trees) plus "hous", house. The New English dictionary describes a "haghouse", as a place for storing firewood. Hence, hag-house was probably a wood cutter's hut and the surname one for a wood-cutter. Emma Hagase was mentioned in the Poll Tax of Yorkshire of 1379, while Gilbert of Haggehouse was recorded in 1394, in Black. John Hagas was listed in the Register of the Freemen of York in 1401, and William Haggus was found in Scotland in 1427, according to Black. The Lancashire Wills record a Christopher Haghus in 1532. Margarett, daughter of John and Mary Haggis was christened at Haworth, Yorkshire July 24th 1825. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard del Haghous, which was dated 1327, in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as "The Father of the Navy", 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.